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enApple Daily: IBM May Buy 200K Macs; Force Touch for iPhone 6s; Apple and BMW End Talkshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ibm_may_buy_200k_macs_force_touch_iphone_6s_apple_and_bmw_end_talks
<!--paging_filter--><p>In today's Apple Daily, IBM hints in an employee video that the majority of its worksforce could end up using Macs. In other news, the Force Touch components for the next iPhones are apparently already in mass production, and BMW reportedly ends its talks with Apple.</p><h3>IBM May Buy Up to 200,000 Macs from Apple Per Year</h3><p>The times, they really are a changin'. Today, IBM chief information officer Jeff Smith said in a video to employees that he believes IBM might end up buying as many as 150,000 to 200,000 Macs from Apple per year (via <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/07/31/ibm-200k-macs/" target="_blank">MacRumors</a>). That marks a far cry from the days when IBM and Apple were rivals with one another, and it's yet another sign that Apple and IBM's surprise partnership for enterprise customers continues to pay off.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jUt7THXVKFk" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>The move could change the image of IBM as we know it. Later in the video, Smith recalls a discussion between Apple CEO Tim Cook and IBM vice president Fletcher Previn in which Previn suggests that the deal could lead to as much as 50 to 75 percent of IBM's workforce switching to Macs instead of the Lenovo Thinkpads the company normally uses.</p><p>The video suggests that it was only Smith's claim of buying around 150,000 to 200,000 Macs per year that attracted Apple's chief information officer Niall O'Connor to the offer, as he previously was evasive when Smith asked about a way to make "the overall cost [of MacBooks] the same or lower than PCs" under the deal. But O'Connor was instantly more receptive when Smith uttered the new number, as O'Connor reportedly mentioned that the Cupertino company's largest corporate customer only orders around 25,000 Macs per year.</p><p>The news comes a few months after the revelation that IBM was planning on buying around 50,000 MacBooks from Apple throughout 2015, and that Apple and IBM had worked together on a series of enterprise-focused apps for iOS devices.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Force Touch Modules for iPhone 6s Said to Enter Mass Production</h3><p>Newly discovered hints along the Chinese supply lines seem to prove that the next iPhone will support Apple's new Force Touch technology. According to a new report from the sometimes reliable <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150730PD207.html" target="_blank">DigiTimes</a>, manufacturer TPK is starting mass production of pressure-sensitive display modules just a month after it sent off a small selection of samples. The report is hazy on the details, but it seems likely that the modules are being created by our favorite Cupertino company.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/forcetouch.png" width="620" height="346" /></p><p>Other hints seem to confirm this. For one, TPK estimates that its third fiscal quarter will see a revenue boost of around 50 percent, which rougly corresponds to the period when Apple's next-generation handsets should start heading out into the wild. Apple typically announces new iPhones in September or October, so the timing matches up with the expected anouncements of the so-called "iPhone 6s" and "iPhone 6s Plus" around the same time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Talks with BMW About Electric Car Reportedly End</h3><p>Last week we <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_gibney_steve_jobs_documentary_trailer_bmw_and_apple_kids_react_ipod" target="_blank">reported </a>that Apple CEO Tim Cook and other executives had met with the top brass at BMW to discuss partnering up to make an electric Apple car, but according to <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/31/us-apple-bmw-courtship-insight-idUSKCN0Q52CW20150731" target="_blank">Reuters</a>, those talks have fallen through. Or, at least, they've been put on the backburner, as the report claims that talks "may be revived at a later stage."</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/i3_0.jpg" width="620" height="326" /></p><p><strong>Above: BMW's I3 Semi-Electric Car</strong></p><p>The talks seem to have ended for two reasons. For one, Apple is apparently interested in designing an electric car entirely on its own, although the Cupertino company's executives were reportedly impressed with the approach BMW took in creating its i3 electric car. For another, BMW is afraid of becoming a mere "supplier to a software or internet giant."</p><p>The original report from Germany's Manager Magazine stated that Apple is most interested in the body for the i3, a car that gets approximately 80 miles on a full charge, but which can switch over to traditional fuel if the driver needs to go a few more miles in an emergency.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ibm_may_buy_200k_macs_force_touch_iphone_6s_apple_and_bmw_end_talks#commentsNewsApple CarBMWelectric carEnterpriseforce touchIBMicariphoneiPhone 6sMacTim CookFri, 31 Jul 2015 23:44:42 +0000Leif Johnson21901 at http://www.maclife.comGet a Free Digital Issue of MacLife!http://www.maclife.com/article/news/get-free-digital-issue-maclife
<!--paging_filter--><p>Who says you can't get something for nothing? Right now, for example, you can get a recent &nbsp;tip-filled digital issue of MacLife magazine for free on your iOS device. And if you want to sign up for a digital MacLife subscription, you can get even more free stuff. Read on for the details!</p><p><img src="/files/u332541/2015/07/articleheader.jpg" width="620" height="371" /></p><p>To grab your free back issue of MacLife, all you have to do is enter the reward code <strong>MACLIFE0715</strong> into the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id469917012?mt=8" target="_blank">Mac|Life app</a>. This issue contains 80 amazing Apple Watch tips to unlock its hidden features, plus a complete guide to making your home network super-fast, and a definitive review of the recent MacBook.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>How to download your reward:</p><p>1. Download the <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id469917012?mt=8" target="_blank">Mac|Life app</a>.</p><p>2. Tap “Help”, select “How do I download my reward?” and follow the link.</p><p>3. Enter your reward code <strong>MACLIFE0715</strong></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Want even more Apple goodness? We'll serve it right up by giving you our current issue and the next issue free when you <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id469917012?mt=8" target="_blank">subscribe and start a 30-day trial of Mac|Life</a>. For a limited time, you will also get our iPad Air Made Simple guide on top of all that.&nbsp;</p><p>With enhanced hardware and an improved display, the iPad Air 2 is a best-in-breed device, which can also be pretty confusing if you’re new to tablets or Apple devices. iPad Air Made Simple has been designed to help unravel the mysteries of the hardware, operating system, and apps — taking you through every main feature and function. With this as your guide, you’ll soon be the master of your iPad Air.</p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/get-free-digital-issue-maclife#commentsNewsDealsFreeMaclifepromoFri, 31 Jul 2015 18:35:16 +0000MacLife Staff21898 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: New Apple TV in September; Apple Hunting Offices in San Franciscohttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_new_apple_tv_september_apple_hunting_offices_san_francisco
<!--paging_filter--><p>If you believe the latest rumor, it appears we might see the next Apple TV as early as September. Also, Apple appears to be making its first big push for office space in San Francisco. But what is it for?</p><h3>New Apple TV Rumored to Appear in September</h3><p>Another day, another rumor that the next generation of Apple TV is just a few months away. The latest comes from <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/johnpaczkowski/apple-will-debut-new-apple-tv-in-september#.xo3P786GX" target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a>'s John Paczkowski, whose sources claim that Apple will reveal the new set-top box in September at the same event where it's expected to reveal the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus.</p><p>Most of the information we've heard about the device appear to be correct — namely, that it'll include an A8 processor, a "drastically improved" remote, as well as other goodies such as Siri support, its own App Store, and additional storage. In line with Apple's design tendencies as of late, it'll be slimmer as well.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/apple-tv_1.jpg" width="620" height="426" /></p><p>Alas, Apple apparently won't be releasing its long-awaited streaming TV service at the same time. For that, we'll likely have to wait until next year, although the report allows the possibility that we could still see it around the end of 2015. The service is currently thought to cost around $30 to $40 per month, and it'll likely launch with around 25 channels.</p><p>The new Apple TV has been projected to make a possible appearance at almost every major Apple presentation over the last two years, but so far we've had no luck. Apple's last major update for its increasingly popular diminutive entertainment device happened back in 2012.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Reportedly Seeking Office Space in San Francisco</h3><p>Apple is often associated with the San Francisco area, although its main offices in Cupertino are actually around an hour away. But now, according to a new report from <em><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/07/apple-dives-into-soma-for-first-big-s-f-aapl.html?ana=twt" target="_blank">The San Francisco Business Times</a></em>, the Cupertino company is preparing to move into the Golden Gate city for the first time.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/cbs_0.jpg" width="620" height="412" /></p><p><strong>Photo:&nbsp;<em><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/real-estate/2015/07/apple-dives-into-soma-for-first-big-s-f-aapl.html?ana=twt" target="_blank">San Francisco Business Times</a></em></strong></p><p>The space itself contains around 7,600 square feet up for subleasing from CBS Interactive on 235 Second Street. According to estimates, it could hold anywhere from 400 to 500 employees. That's nothing, of course, compared to what you'll find in the 2.8 million-square foot "spaceship" campus Apple is building for itself in Cupertino, but the company has also been caught fishing for additional space in San Jose as well, where a 300,000-square foot office building was up for leasing grabs.</p><p>Apple, naturally, declined to comment on the matter, and there's no clue as to what the company will do with the space if it decides to take the lease. The best guess for the space might be a new home for Beats Music, which will end its lease at its current location in San Francisco's Dogpatch neighborhood in 2017. With so many exciting things happening with Beats One and Apple Music, this could be a good opportunity to bring related operations into a higher profile neighborhood.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_new_apple_tv_september_apple_hunting_offices_san_francisco#commentsNewsApple TVCBS Interactiveofficesreal estateRumorsSan FranciscospeculationThu, 30 Jul 2015 23:58:10 +0000Leif Johnson21895 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Apple Visitor's Center; iPad Sales Fall Again; Third El Capitan Public Betahttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_visitors_center_ipad_sales_fall_again_third_el_capitan_public_beta
<!--paging_filter--><p>Want a better look at Apple's "spaceship" campus once it's finished without having to work for Apple? It looks like you'll be able to, thanks to a new visitor's center that's said to be going up on the site. In addition, iPad sales continue to fall (but there's hope they'll jump up again later this year), and Apple released the third public beta for Mac OS El Capitan.</p><h3>Concept Art, Blueprints Emerge for Planned Apple Visitor's Center</h3><p>Apple has been much more open to the public in recent years, and in that spirit, the company is reportedly ready to build a new visitor's center at the upcoming "spaceship campus" that will have a cafe and an observation deck for a better view of the campus itself (via the<em> <a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2015/07/29/apple-campus-2-to-feature-visitors-center-with.html" target="_blank">San Jose Business Journal</a></em>).</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ac2-visitor-center-hero-shot-750xx1181-664-0-85.jpg" /></p><p>Visually, the building will be "a super-modern glass-walled structure topped by a carbon-fiber roof with extended eaves, punctuated by large skylights," and it will have a 10,114 square-foot Apple Store as well. The project has apparently been in the works for some time, as the <em>Journal</em> found documents pertaining to the visitor's center that were filed with the city of Cupertino in April.</p><p>There will be 684 parking spaces "below grade" to accomodate the visitor's center, and elevators will take the visitors up to the center itself. The report also notes that Apple's neighbors in a single-family home community won't have to worry about being bothered by all this, as there's a "screen" blocking the view.</p><p>Apple is currently planning to finish construction of the campus as a whole by late 2016.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Report: iPad Sales Continues to Fall</h3><p>Apple may remain the king of the tablets, but its market dominance is on the wane. The numbers for IDC's <a href="http://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS25811115" target="_blank">Worldwide Quarterly Tablet Tracker </a>came out today, and they show that the company "only" sold 10.9 million iPads during Q2 of 2015 compared to 13.3 million from the year before. Not bad, but it means that Apple's market share went down from 27.7 to 24.5 percent in year-over-year.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/tablettracker.jpg" width="620" height="367" /></p><p>But the numbers also show that the tablet market as a whole is declining, and the chief competition is coming from low-cost alternatives from complanies like Lenovo, Huawei, and LG, all of whom&nbsp;saw growth in&nbsp;the last quarter. (There's also a nebulous "other" category, which accounts for a massive 45.6 percent of the market.) Longtime Apple rival Samsung even saw its share slip to 17 percent after it sold only 7.6 million tablets.</p><p>Recent rumors have suggested that Apple could break this trend if its fall lineup manages to impress. This year, Apple is expected to release its long-rumored (and highly anticipated) 12.9-inch "iPad Pro," in addition to a new iPad Air and an updated iPad Mini with the same specs as the iPad Air 2.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Releases Third Public Beta for Mac OS X El Capitan</h3><p>Apple continues to plunk out of the public betas for Mac OS X El Capitan. Just three weeks after the original public beta for the upcoming operating system went live, the third public beta is already here.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/elcapitan_0.jpg" width="620" height="316" /></p><p>This public beta comes just days after Apple seeded the fifth developer beta, and it's currently thought that it contains relatively few surprises — for the most part, it just tidies up previous problems and squashes a few bugs.</p><p>Still, that might mean it's a good time to jump in and try El Capitan, which includes better window control, improved Photos and Notes apps, and improved Spotlight searches. If you've never tried out Apple's beta testing program, you can sign up for it <a href="https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>The operating system itself is expected to launch sometime in the fall.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_visitors_center_ipad_sales_fall_again_third_el_capitan_public_beta#commentsNewsCupertinoEl CapitaniPadMacOS Xpublic betaspaceship campusvisitor's centerThu, 30 Jul 2015 00:23:25 +0000Leif Johnson21890 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Steve Jobs Film to Headline NY Film Festival; Apple Music Data-Free for T-Mobilehttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_steve_jobs_film_headline_ny_film_festival_apple_music_datafree_tmobile
<!--paging_filter--><p>So that new <em>Steve Jobs</em> film looks like it won't be as poorly received as Ashton Kutcher's effort, seeing as how it was just announced as the centerpiece for the upcoming New York Film Festival. In other news, Apple Music no longer counts against your data if you use T-Mobile, and a new breakthrough from Qualcomm may pave the way for wireless charging for iPhones.</p><h3>Steve Jobs Biopic to Headline NY Film Festival</h3><p>Danny Boyle's <em>Steve Jobs</em> biopic is alrteady getting some healthy recognition ahead of its October 9 wide release date, and this morning the Film Society of Lincoln Center <a href="http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2015/daily/steve-jobs-set-as-nyff53-centerpiece/" target="_blank">announced</a> that the Aaron Sorkin-penned flick will be the New York Film Festival centerpiece this fall. According to festival director Kent Jones, it's "dramatically concentrated, yet thoughtfully expansive; it's extremely sharp; it's wildly entertaining, and the actors just soar — you can feel their joy as they bite into their material."</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/fassbender.jpg" width="620" height="348" /></p><p>The film, which had a bit of a rough start on its way to the big screen, stars Michael Fassbender in the title role, Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak, in addition to Kate Winslet and Jeff Bridges. Aaron Sorkin's script was based on Walter Isaacson's bestselling biography. As director Boyle said after learning of the honor:</p><p>"Steve Jobs was a thoroughly contradictory and complex character who forged our digital age. He’s the kind of brilliant, flawed character that Shakespeare would have relished writing about, and storytellers of all kinds will be fashioning and re-fashioning the mythology of the digital revolution for generations to come. I hope that festivalgoers enjoy our take."</p><p>The New York Film Festival runs from September 25 through October 11.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Music No Longer Counts Against Data Plan with T-Mobile</h3><p>T-Mobile just gets more and more enticing for Apple users. Today T-Mobile CEO John Legere <a href="http://newsroom.t-mobile.com/media-kits/iphone-offer-music-freedom-amped.htm" target="_blank">announced </a>that the carrier is adding Apple Music to its "Music Freedom" program, which means you'll get to listen to music on Apple's own streaming service without worrying about it eating up your monthly data. Spotify, Google Play Music, and over 30 other services were already available with no data restrictions through the program, and now Apple's service counts as well.</p><p>"Apple Music counts for a full 80 percent of the requests coming in [for Music Freedom] via Twitter," Legere said this morning. "I heard every one of them, so it’s happening right now!"</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J2_7D6VedHw" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>And that's not all that's happening for iPhone users. When the so-called iPhone 6s comes out later this year, members of T-Mobile's "Jump" program for frequent upgrades will be able to trade up to the new phone without an increase to their $15 monthly payments. In T-Mobile's own words:</p><p>"When customers are ready to upgrade, they walk into a store, hand over their existing iPhone 6 or 6 Plus and walk out with an upgraded iPhone — nothing out of pocket and no increase in monthly cost."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Qualcomm Innovation Paves Way for Wireless Charging on iPhone</h3><p>Thanks to a new breakthrough from Apple parts supplier <a href="https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2015/07/28/qualcomm-becomes-first-company-enable-wireless-charging-mobile-devices" target="_blank">Qualcomm </a>(via <a href="http://www.cultofmac.com/378492/breakthrough-could-finally-bring-wireless-charging-to-iphone/">Cult of Mac</a>), it's possible we'll see wireless charging for iPhones in the coming years. Up until now Apple phones haven't had access to the feature owing to the aluminum bodies normally used for iPhones, which rarely play nice with the induction chargers normally included in wireless charging platforms. That's why you normally find it with smartphones with bodies made out of plastic or similar materials.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/proxi.png" width="620" height="312" /></p><p><strong>Image: Proxi Wireless Charging Pad</strong></p><p>Qualcomm's solution uses the company's own WiPower technology and is reportedly compliant with the Rezence standard. It uses field magnetic resonance technology, which allows multiple devices such an iPhone and Apple Watch to be charged with the same charging pad.</p><p>Qualcomm just now announced the technology, which means it's almost certainly too late for it to appear alongside the so-called iPhone 6s and 6s Plus expected to appear this fall. The year after? Well, that's another story.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_steve_jobs_film_headline_ny_film_festival_apple_music_datafree_tmobile#commentsNewsApple MusicAppsbiopicDanny BoyleiphoneMichael FassbenderNew York Film FestivalQualcommSteve JobsT-Mobilewireless chargingWed, 29 Jul 2015 00:09:23 +0000Leif Johnson21888 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: No New 4-Inch iPhone; iPad Mini 4 Rumors; Shenzhen Fake iPhone Factoryhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_no_new_4inch_iphone_ipad_mini_4_rumors_shenzhen_fake_iphone_factory
<!--paging_filter--><p>Were you holding out for a 4-inch iPhone among this fall's releases? It may not be coming, according to a new report. Elsewhere, the next iPad mini might be worth upgrading to, and Chinese police shut down a major fake-iPhone manufacturing facility.</p><h3>Smaller 'iPhone 6c' Likely Not Coming, Analyst Says</h3><p>The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may have shattered Apple's own records left and right, but some iPhone owners who believe that bigger isn't better have been holding out for a rumored 4-inch "iPhone 6c." But it apparently won't be coming, according to Cowen and Company analyst Timothy Arcuri (via <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-iphone-6c-rumors-2015-7/" target="_blank">Business Insider</a>), who claims the previous hints that the device existed have vanished from the market.</p><p>According to Arcuri, Apple might have dropped the device out of fears that its lower price would cause it to eat into the sales for the iPhone 6, which many analysts expect to keep selling well even after the release of this year's expected "iPhone 6s" and "iPhone 6s Plus."</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/iphone_6cjpg.jpg" /></p><p>"I think one of the reasons is because the iPhone 6 has sold so well," Arcuri said in his note to investors. "And they said, 'Look, why would we want to cannibalize? If we came out with an iPhone 6C, we would essentially cannibalize a price-reduced iPhone 6.'"</p><p>It's worth noting that respected analyst Ming Chi-Kuo of KGI Securities claimed months back that a 4-inch iPhone is still possible (via <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/04/22/4-inch-iphone-2016-ming-chi-kuo/" target="_blank">MacRumors</a>), even though he doubted that we'd see it this year. For that, he said at the time, we'll probably have to wait until 2016 — after the mad rush for the iPhone 6 has truly died down.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Rumor: iPad Mini 4 to Resemble Small iPad Air 2</h3><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ipadair_0.jpg" width="150" height="117" class="graphic-right" />Last year's iPad mini suffered from something of a lukewarm reception, but that might not be the case for its successor. According to Japanese blog<a href="http://www.macotakara.jp/blog/rumor/entry-27541.html" target="_blank"> Mac Otakara</a>, sources in "the industry" claim that the next generation iPad mini will likely amount to a smaller version of the iPad Air 2. Thus, like its larger cousin, it'll likely sport an 8-megapixel rear camera, a thin 6.1-mm mody, and an anti-reflective display.</p><p>The report is also noteworthy for claiming that Apple might release a new iPad Air model later this year after all, in contrast to<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ipod_lineup_refresh_backtoschool_promo_playing_hooky_no_new_ipad_air" target="_blank"> July 15'</a>s rumor from Taiwan's Economic Daily News claiming that we won't see a new iPad Air among the upcoming releases. Notably, last week's report also claimed that the iPad mini 4 could be Apple's last iPad mini ever. While the latest rumor doesn't exactly contradict that, it shows that Apple still believes the little device has some fight in it yet.</p><p>Keep in mind that, as with last week's report, the evidence for all this is sketchy at best. If true, though, that means we could see as many as three iPads from Apple this fall: the iPad mini 4, the iPad Air 3, and the long-awaited (and long-rumored) 12.9-inch "iPad Pro." With such a wide range of choices, it's possible Apple's tablet could see a boost in sales after multiple years of decline.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Beijing Police Shut Down Counterfeit iPhone Factory</h3><p>Apple's business in China is taking off, but the company still finds itself struggling to combat knockoff units of its products in the country. The scale of the problem is sometimes staggering. As <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/27/us-china-fakes-iphone-idUSKCN0Q10X720150727" target="_blank">Reuters </a>reports, Beijing police recently shut down one operation that had managed to make more than 41,000 bonus iPhones, which equates into a market value of roughly $19 million.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/apple-store.png" /></p><p><strong>Above: Apple's store in Hangzhou, China, shortly before opening.</strong></p><p>Police arrested a total of nine people in connection with the operation, with the ringleaders alleged to be a married couple in their early 40s from the manufacturing-focused city of Shenzhen. The factory itself was reportedly set up to look like a maintenance shop for tech devices, when in truth it concealed "hundreds" of workers crafting fake iPhones from second-hand smartphone components.</p><p>All this happened back in May, but only now has the news gone public. The discovery of the operation was said to have been spurred by the discovery of some of the offending devices by American officials, who then told Beijing police to be on the lookout.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_no_new_4inch_iphone_ipad_mini_4_rumors_shenzhen_fake_iphone_factory#commentsNewsBeijingChinaCounterfeitcrimefakeiPadipad air 2iPad mini 4iphoneiPhone 6cpoliceShenzhenTue, 28 Jul 2015 00:22:06 +0000Leif Johnson21886 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Gibney Steve Jobs Documentary Trailer; BMW and Apple; Kids React to iPodhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_gibney_steve_jobs_documentary_trailer_bmw_and_apple_kids_react_ipod
<!--paging_filter--><p>Remember that documentary at SXSW that gained a name for accentuating Steve Jobs' flaws to the exclusion of everything else? It's got a trailer now. In other news, Apple is reportedly interesting in jump-starting its rumored electric car program with a little help from BMW, and a group of kids have almost no idea what to do with the original iPod.</p><h3>Trailer for Critical Steve Jobs Documentary Goes Live</h3><p>Sir Alex Gibney made headlines earlier this year when he showed his divisive documentary Steve Jobs: Man in the Machine at SXSW, and the documentary's focus on Jobs', er, less-favorable aspects caused many executives at Apple turn their heads in disgust. Now, at last, those of us who couldn't make SXSW have a trailer for the film ahead of its release in select theaters.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jhWKxtsYrJE" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>The release date of September 4 itself is notable, as it's a little more than a month ahead of the release of Danny Boyle and Aaron Sorkin's Steve Jobs biopic starring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen, and Jeff Daniels. As for the trailer itself, Gibney calls it an "impressionistic" depiction of the late Apple co-founder.</p><p>Apple exective Eddy Cue was particularly vocal about his opposition on Twitter after viewing the documentary at SXSW, as he called it "an inaccurate and mean-spirited view of my friend" and that is was "not a reflection of the Steve I knew." For a better account (or at least one more in line with Apple's thoughts on the matter), Cue recommended Brent Schlender and Rick Tetzeli's <em>Becoming Steve Jobs </em>book, which he called the "first to get it right."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Reportedly Interested in Basing Its Electric Cars on BMW's i3 Line</h3><p>According to a new report from Germany's <a href="http://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/autoindustrie/apple-an-karosserie-des-bmw-elektroautos-i3-interessiert-a-1044901.html" target="_blank">Manager Magazin</a> (via <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/24/apple-bmw-negotiations/" target="_blank">9to5Mac</a>), Apple is interested in using BMW's i3 line as the basis for the Cupertino company's own rumored line of electric cars. The company is particularly interested in BMW's carbon fiber body, or so the report goes, and thus Apple CEO Tim Cook and several other Apple executives made a trip to Leipzig, Germany in order to attempt to reach an agreement with the veteran German automaker.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/i3.jpg" width="620" height="340" /></p><p>The i3 line is apparently decent but not ideal, as it reportedly achieves a mere 80 miles on a single charge as opposed to the 300 miles obtainable by the rival Tesla Model S. It's also still slightly dependent on the old ways, as it comes with a extender that allows it to guzzle a few gallons of gasoline in the event that the 80-mile charge limit turns out to be insufficient (and it likely will). If Apple seriously wants to compete with Tesla on the global market, they'll have to achieve something better than that.</p><p>And it seems Apple is aware of the problem. The report claims that Apple has been in talks with BMW since last year, but so far nothing significant has come of them.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Watch Kids React to the Original iPod</h3><p>If you want to close the week's Apple news on a happy note (or, perhaps, a slightly depressing one if you've, um, been around the block a few times), be sure to check out this new video of kids checking out the first iPod (via Cult of Mac). Introduced in October of 2001, the first iPod isn't even that old in the general scheme of things, but few things demonstrate how totally technology has bounded ahead in the last two decades like their total puzzlement over how to use the thing.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0lvlbRQq1UM" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>Most telling, of course, is the way the kids try to handle the screen as though it featured a touch interface, and that they almost always speak of it in relation to the iPhone. Indeed, it's often thought that nothing killed the iPod quite like the iPhone, and the video itself is another testament of the staggering significane of the touchscreen revolution.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_gibney_steve_jobs_documentary_trailer_bmw_and_apple_kids_react_ipod#commentsNewsAlex GibneyApple CarBMWelectric caricariPodKids reactRumorsspeculationSteve Jobs The Man in the MachineSat, 25 Jul 2015 00:31:41 +0000Leif Johnson21874 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: More Leaked iPhone 6s Photos; Back-to-School Promo; Equality Act of 2015http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_more_leaked_iphone_6s_photos_backtoschool_promo_equality_act_2015
<!--paging_filter--><p>Yet another supposedly leaked photo of the next iPhone appeared today, which means we'll probably know what the entire thing looks like by the time Apple CEO Tim Cook takes the stage to announce it. In other news, Apple's Back-to-School promo isn't dead after all, and everyone's favorite Cupertino company has expressed support for the Equality Act of 2015 introduced today.</p><h3>More 'Leaked' iPhone 6s Photos Appear</h3><p>Two more alleged leaked photos featuring the so-called "iPhone 6s" appeared today, proving that Tim Cook really meant it when he said Apple would "<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_ceo_tim_cook_d10_recap" target="_blank">double down</a>" on <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_reportedly_hires_200_security_officers_stop_leaks_china" target="_blank">secrecy</a>. In all seriousness, though, the photos purport to show the front panel for the silver and gold versions of the upcoming iPhone (via <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=&amp;tl=en&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nowhereelse.fr%2Fphotos-facade-iphone-6s-108689%2F">Nowhereelse.fr</a>).</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/iphone6s.jpg" width="620" height="559" /></p><p>Look familiar? As we've noted before, the next iPhone release is thought to be an "S" release, and in the case of the iPhone 4S and the iPhone 5s, that means a phone that looks almost identical to the phone that came before it but with improved internal components. That appears to be the case here as well.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/phone6s2.jpg" width="620" height="458" /></p><p>One of the big improvements for the next phone is thought to be the inclusion of Apple's new Force Touch technology, but the source who provided the photos reportedly couldn't confirm if the panel supported the feature or even whether the panel was made out of sapphire crystal. Other improvements are thought to include an A9 processor, a 12-megapixel camera, and better support for Touch ID.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Get a Free Pair of Beats Solo2 Headphones with Apple's Back-to-School Deal</h3><p>Apple's Back-to-School promotion for 2015 is here at last, and it takes advantage of some of the new friends Apple has picked up during its rush of acquisitions. Instead of gift cards or free iPods, customers who purchase an iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or Mac Pro this year as a part of the deal will get a free pair of Beats Solo 2 headphones. Sorry Mac mini buyers — you're not eligible for the offer.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/beats.jpeg" width="620" height="413" /></p><p>And that's it. There are no deals involving the iPad, despite Apple's somewhat recent <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/la_school_district_expands_ipad_initiative_115_million_budget" target="_blank">efforts </a>to get the tablet into the hands of students at school districts across the United States. But if you're willing to shell out an additional $100, you can pick up the wireless Beats Solo2 headphones as a part of the deal instead of the standard wired 'phones, so that's something, right?</p><p>At the time of writing, Apple isn't even doing that much to advertise the promotion, and you'll only see it if you look closely at the Cupertino company's minimalist <a href="https://www.apple.com/promo/" target="_blank">Rebates </a>page. The promotion itself runs from today through September 18 in Apple retail stores, although it's only active from August 6 through September 18 for orders from the online store.</p><p>Be sure to check out the full terms and conditions <a href="https://www.apple.com/promo/pdf/Back_to_School_2015_Terms_Conditions_US.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Announces Support for Equality Act of 2015</h3><p>Apple has emerged as a major champion of LGBT rights in recent years, and true to form, the company is throwing its support behing the Equality Act of 2015, which was introduced by members of Congress earlier this afternoon. The act is meant to serve as an expansion to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it would protect both gay and transgendered people from discrimination when seeking for jobs, housing, and more.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/prideapple.jpg" width="620" height="465" /></p><p><strong>Photo: Tim Cook</strong></p><p>Specifically, Apple sent a<a href="http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/major-corporations-announce-support-for-landmark-federal-lgbt-non-discrimin" target="_blank"> statement </a>to the Human Rights Campaign that echoes statements the Cupertino company has used on other, similar occasions:</p><p>"At Apple we believe in equal treatment for everyone, regardless of where they come from, what they look like, how they worship or who they love. We fully support the expansion of legal protections as a matter of basic human dignity."</p><p>This is particularly relevant event for Apple as Tim Cook was the first CEO for a Fortune 500 company to announce that he was gay, and earlier this year Apple was a vocal advocate of the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of marriage equality.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_more_leaked_iphone_6s_photos_backtoschool_promo_equality_act_2015#commentsNewsback to schoolEquality Act of 2015iphoneiPhone 6sleaksmarriage equalitypromotionsRumorsspeculationTim CookThu, 23 Jul 2015 23:56:22 +0000Leif Johnson21870 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: iOS Beta App Reviews End; Apple Watch Dominates; iOS Devices Match PC Saleshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ios_beta_app_reviews_end_apple_watch_dominates_ios_devices_match_pc_sales
<!--paging_filter--><p>If you're a developer who's been annoyed by Apple's practice of letting iOS beta users leave reviews for unsupported apps, you'll find some happy news in today's Apple Daily. And there's happy news for Apple, too, despite yesterday's stock slump: the Apple Watch now commands the lion's share of the smartwatch market, and iOS devices as a whole achieved an important milestone.</p><h3>Apple Disables Writing App Reviews from iOS Betas</h3><p>One of the unfortunate side effects of the emergence of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_may_start_offering_ios_public_betas_apple_cars_road_2020" target="_blank">public betas</a> for iOS is the trend of giving poor reviews for apps that haven't been updated to support whatever prerelease versiion of iOS a user might be running, but Apple put a end to that today. From now on, you won't be able to leave reviews for apps on the App Store if you're attempting to write them from an iOS beta. The problem existed before the public betas as well, but it's been particularly troublesome in the last few months.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/reviews.jpg" width="620" height="372" /></p><p>The key problem is that potential app buyers would look at reports of technical problems in the reviews and assume they were present in the live version as well. That, of course, might sometimes be the case, but too often developers saw their apps being slammed for problems that were none of their doing and thus they repeatedly asked Apple to do something about it. And now, finally, they have.</p><p>It's currently not known if Apple can get rid of the reviews that were causing the trouble in the first place. Instead, Apple is expected to&nbsp;just let the good reviews bury the old, thus avoiding the thorny issue of removing user posts and eliminating the need to come up with a formula for deleting the older ones.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Report: Apple Watch Took 75% Share of Smartwatch Market in Q3</h3><p>Wall Street investors might be <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apples_q3_earnings_report_beats_1_traffic_affects_apple_services" target="_blank">grumbling</a> that Apple didn't quite match the sky-high expectations analysts set before the Cupertino company's quarterly earnings call, but it can hardly be argued that the company fared poorly, either. Take the Apple Watch. According to data research from Strategy Analytics (via <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/22/apple-smartwatch-marketshare/" target="_blank">9to5Mac</a>), Apple nabbed a whopping 75 percent of the global smartwatch market in the device's first quarter. For comparison, runner-up Samsung only managed to capture 7.5 percent.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/strategyanalytics.png" width="620" height="404" /></p><p>That's admittedly an optimistic report, considering that Strategy Analytics is still assuming that Apple sold around 4 million smartwatches in the last quarter, while many analysts are now pegging sales in the 2.2 million or 3 million unit range following <a href="http://apple_daily_apples_q3_earnings_report_beats_1_traffic_affects_apple_services" target="_blank">words</a> from Tim Cook and Apple CFO Luca Maestri. Considering that Samsung only sold around 400,000 smartwatches in the same period, however, that's still massively impressive even with more modest figures. At this time last year, it was Samsung that could boast a 73.6 percent shart of the smartwatch market.</p><p>Still, it's clear that both companies dominate the market. According to Strategy Analytics' estimates, the two companies accounted for eight out of every 10 smartwatches sold. Tim Cook wouldn't say yesterday exactly how many Apple Watches his company sold during the quarter, but he did note that the device "exceeded expectations."</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>iOS Device Sales Match Those for Windows PCs</h3><p>And here's more good news. After Apple reported yesterday that it had sold 47 million iPhones and 10.9 million iPads for the quarter, <a href="https://twitter.com/benedictevans/status/623668376280395776" target="_blank">Benedict Evans</a> of a16z (via <a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/21/ios-sales-outpace-windows-sales/" target="_blank">9to5Mac</a>) took those numbers and compared them to those for Windows PC sales and found something surprising. For the first time ever, sales of iOS devices are matching those for Windows PCs. True, Evans <a href="https://twitter.com/BenedictEvans/status/623669080348688384" target="_blank">notes</a> that Android sales reached the same landmark back in 2012, but both are important events in the world's lessening dependance on Microsoft's widely used operating system.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ios.png" width="620" height="350" /></p><p>It's been a long time coming, but the sales trajectory in Evan's graphs suggests this would happen eventually. Sales of Apple iOS devices have essentially only gone up since June of 2008, while sales of Windows PCs have essentially remained the same for all that time despite a boost in sales in the earlier part of this decade.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ios_beta_app_reviews_end_apple_watch_dominates_ios_devices_match_pc_sales#commentsNewsandroidApple WatchAppsiOS 8iPadiphonepublic betareviewsSamsungWindows PCWed, 22 Jul 2015 23:45:38 +0000Leif Johnson21866 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Apple's Q3 Earnings Report; Beats 1 Traffic Affects Apple Serviceshttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apples_q3_earnings_report_beats_1_traffic_affects_apple_services
<!--paging_filter--><p>The numbers are in for the iPhone, iPad, the Mac, and yes, the Apple Watch from Apple's quarterly earnings call, and while those numbers are impressive, Wall Street doesn't seem too happy. In other news, Apple's planned announcement of the MTV Video Music Award nominees apparently crashed Beats 1 this morning, along with most of Apple's other online services.</p><h3>Apple Reveals Q3 2015 Sales in Quarterly Earnings Call</h3><p>Apple held its quarterly earnings call today, and as you might have expected, the company's sitting on a massive pile of cash. Indeed, the Cupertino company made $10.7 billion in operating profit during the last quarter, which means the company now has $202 billion in cash to draw from. Apple had already broken records with last quarter's report of $194 billion, and it's worth noting that it achieved this new record even after giving back $13 billion to shareholders in dividends.</p><p>As expected, the iPhone did quite well during the quarter. All total, Apple sold 47.5 million units of the popular smartphone, representing a 35 percent increase from the same time last year. That's down a bit from the jaw-dropping 74.5 billion iPhones Apple sold in Q1 and the 61 million it sold in Q2, but it's still an impressive figure to achieve in what is typically the slowest period for iPhone sales.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/applewatch_1.jpg" width="620" height="349" /></p><p>The App Store had its best quarter ever, and Apple CEO Tim Cook noted that it saw a 24 percent increase in revenue and a 19 percent growth in the number of transacting customers. Mac sales were up, too, as Apple sold 4.8 million units during the last quarter, a jump up from the 4.4 million sold in the year-ago quarter. As expected, the iPad continued its slow, sad decline with just 10.9 million sold compared to the 13.3 million sold at this point last year.</p><p>Tim Cook also revealed some information about sales for the Apple Watch, although (as expected) he didn't mention specific numbers. Still, he did claim that it "exceeded expectations" even with the constrained supplies and that "We feel really great about how we did."</p><p>In fact, according to Apple chief financial officer Luca Maestri, the Apple Watch sold more units in its first nine weeks than the iPhone and iPad sold during the same timeframe after their initial release. The original iPhone saw around 1 million units sold in the month after its release, and the iPad saw 3 million sold during the same span of time. Notably, Maestri also claimed that June was the best month for Apple Watch sales, countering earlier market speculation that Apple Watch sales <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_watch_sales_slow_home_sharing_ios_9_showtime_apple_tv" target="_blank">declined sharply</a>&nbsp;during that period.</p><p>All this talk of record-breaking quarters might sound impressive, but it apparently didn't impress Wall Street investors. As of the time of writing, Apple stock had plummeted by 6.76 percent in after-hours trading.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Beats 1 Traffic Seemingly Crashes Many Apple Services</h3><p>There's been no official response from Apple itself, but it seems as though the rush of listeners trying to learn the VMA nominees on Beats 1 this morning caused a massive outage affecting multiple Apple services. Apple and MTV had <a href="http://www.mtv.com/news/2218135/2015-vma-nominations-announcement/" target="_blank">planned</a>&nbsp;to announce this year's nominees on Beats 1 <a href="https://twitter.com/Beats1/status/623132759951847424" target="_blank">exclusively</a>, but MTV ended up simply announcing the nominees on its <a href="https://twitter.com/mtv" target="_blank">Twitter account</a> at the scheduled time. At least they were good sports about it, as the feed is full of <a href="https://twitter.com/MTV/status/623504985083518976" target="_blank">references</a> that suggest that nothing is amiss at all (e.g., "Who's listening to @Beats1 on @AppleMusic for more nominees?").</p><p>Apple may not have said anything about the event aside from a System Status message that "Users are experiencing a problem with the services listed above," but the evidence seems strong. The System Status page itself claims that the problems happened right before 10:00 a.m. EST, which is precisely when MTV had announced the nominations were going to take place.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/beats1.jpg" width="620" height="348" /></p><p>Files stored in iCloud apparently weren't affected, but almost everything else — from Apple Music (and Beats 1) and both App Stores to Apple TV and iBooks — was down for the count.</p><p>If the traffic really was the culprit, it should serve as a wake-up call for Apple. First, it shows that the company's push for exclusive announcements and interviews for Beats 1 can, in fact, draw massive traffic. Secondly, though, it shows that Apple needs to be better prepared if it intends to make similar announcements in the future. When the VMA announcements can take down an entertainment powerhouse like iTunes, it just looks bad.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apples_q3_earnings_report_beats_1_traffic_affects_apple_services#commentsNewsApple WatchBeats 1earnings calliPadiphoneiTunesquarterly earnings reportVMATue, 21 Jul 2015 23:51:37 +0000Leif Johnson21863 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: No More 16 GB iPhones?; Back-to-School Promo Update; On-Demand NFLhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_no_more_16_gb_iphones_backtoschool_promo_update_ondemand_nfl
<!--paging_filter--><p>A little annoyed that Apple is still releasing iPhones that start with 16 GB of storage in 2015? If a report from China is correct, you won't have to worry any longer. Elsewhere, Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts hints that the Cupertino company might be preparing some kind of Back-to-School promo after all, and the NFL is releasing a new on-demand streaming option for iOS and Apple TV.</p><h3>Apple May Start with 32GB Storage with 'iPhone 6s'</h3><p>A common criticism of the iPhone in recent years is that Apple has been amiss in making the base units contain a mere 16 GB (and, the horror, the iPhone 5c's 8 GB) in a age when contemporary apps and media fill that up in no time. Those days may soon be gone, though, according to a new report from <a href="http://micgadget.com/35711/say-goodbye-to-the-16gb-iphone-6s-iphone-7/" target="_blank">MIC Gadget</a> in China (via<a href="http://9to5mac.com/2015/07/20/sketchy-chinese-report-claims-iphone-6s-will-drop-16-gb-storage-option-instead-start-at-32-gb/" target="_blank"> 9to5Mac</a>), which claims the upcoming so-called iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus won't have 16 GB models. Instead, they'll come in tiers of 32 GB, 64 GB, and 128 GB.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/apple-iphone-6-colors.jpg" width="620" height="479" /></p><p>This isn't mere analyst speculation; the news allegedly comes from sources inside Foxconn, one of Apple's primary manufacturers for the iPhone.</p><p>"Some Foxconn insiders confirmed that new iPhone 6s (and we think all 'future iPhone' like iPhone 7) will have 32GB and more capacity," the report says. "We can’t tell you from what Foxconn’s department we received information, but we can only say that the packaging of the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus don’t have sticker with '16GB capacity', but 32, 64, 128."</p><p>That sounds sketchy at best, so it looks like we'll have to wait for more leaks for confirmation. The way things have been this year, though, that shouldn't be a problem.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple's Back-to-School Promos Not Dead, According to Ahrendts Video</h3><p>Apple's Back-to-School promotions are a <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ipod_lineup_refresh_backtoschool_promo_playing_hooky_no_new_ipad_air" target="_blank">little overdue</a>, which lead to widespread speculation last week that Apple was preparing to discontinue offers such as free iPods and $50-$100 gift cards with substantial purchases in the weeks before classes start again. But that's maybe not entirely the case, according to the most recent of the weekly videos sent out by Apple retail chief Angela Ahrendts (via <a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//consomac.fr/news-3601-exclusif-une-nouvelle-offre-back-to-school.html&amp;hl=en&amp;langpair=auto|en&amp;tbb=1&amp;ie=ISO-8859-1" target="_blank">Consomac.fr</a>). Employees, in fact, should hear something sometime this week.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ahrendts.jpg" width="620" height="371" /></p><p>"I'm sure many of you are thinking also 'but is there anything else for Back to School?' " Ahrendts said in the video. "Well, I need you to wait until next week's video and I'll share a little bit more insight with you then."</p><p>As the video was from last week, it's likely we'll hear something in the coming days. Of course, it's possible that whatever she announces won't be an actual Back-to-School promotion, but the report notes that her tone suggests customers will be getting at least <em>some </em>kind of deal.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>NFL Bringing On-Demand Games Coverage to Apple Devices</h3><p>The cable-free revolution continues apace, as the NFL is on the verge of offering on-demand football game viewing to users of its mobile app. The app, called <a href="http://www.nfl.com/gamepass" target="_blank">Game Pass</a>, will allow users to watch all 256 games from the regular season through the app as well as though Apple TV. As a bonus, you'll get to watch all games from regular seasons since 2009 as well as out-of-market pre-season games.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/nfl.png" width="620" height="269" /></p><p>It's also friendly to viewers who want to avoid spoilers before they watch a game, as you can turn off scores for games that you haven't watched. Short on time? You can also watch condensed versions of games that last only 30 minutes. Seeking a bit more interactivity? You can check out exclusive camera angles from All-22 and EndZone. All this, and in HD and without commercials.</p><p>Some of these features have been available through the NFL's Game Rewind (which isn't available on Apple TV), but that service will cease to be on July 31 in order to make way for Game Pass. There's currently no word on how much the Game Pass service will cost.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_no_more_16_gb_iphones_backtoschool_promo_update_ondemand_nfl#commentsNewsAngela AhrendtsApple TVback-to-schoolfootballGame PassiOS 8iPadiphoneNFLMon, 20 Jul 2015 23:56:47 +0000Leif Johnson21860 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: iPhone 6s Plus Shell 'Stronger'; 99-Cent iOS App Sale; Fallout Shelter Successhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iphone_6s_plus_shell_stronger_99cent_ios_app_sale_fallout_shelter_success
<!--paging_filter--><p>We've got some hot new photos of the next iPhone for you just in time for the weekend, and, well, they look about like you'd expect. If that isn't too much of a surprise, you might find more excitement in Apple's latest 99-cent sale, or the news that a popular iOS game made $5.1 million within its first two weeks.</p><h3>iPhone 6s Plus Shell Will Be 'Stronger,' Leak Suggests</h3><p>More allegedly leaked photos of the so-called iPhone 6s Plus emerged today via <a href="http://www.futuresupplier.com/blog/the-iphone-6s-plus-rear-housing-has-been-leaked-small-internal-changes-and-stronger-body/">Future Supplier</a>, and they provide yet more confirmation that the next generation of iPhones will look much like the record-smashing generation that preceded it (but with better internal components). So far, so expected, but the report is noteworthy nonetheless for its claim that the device's rear housing will be "stronger" than last year's, presumably in an effort to avoid another "<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_says_only_9_people_reported_bent_iphones_will_replaced_damaged_phones">Bendgate</a>."</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/6s-plus-rear-housing-9.jpg" /></p><p>In fact, there are almost no differences between the rear cover pictured and that for the iPhone 6 Plus aside from some slightly different positions for the screws used to hold the loudspeaker module in place. The claims of a "stronger" back seem to be based entirely on the feel of the housing, which the source responsible for the photos claims isn't as smooth as the back shell for the iPhone 6s, prompting speculation that it's made out of a different material. Regardless of whether it is or not, we can be almost certain that someone's going to try to curve the thing over the tips of their thumbs on the first day it's available.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple Kicks Off Big 99-Cent Sale on iOS App Store</h3><p>It's always a good day to be the owner of an iOS device, but today is a particularly good day on account of a big weekend sale Apple kicked off this morning for the iOS App Store. It's called "Amazing Apps and Games," and it's stuffed with 24 noteworthy apps that are all priced at just 99 cents each.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/appsalejpg.jpg" /></p><p>There's a good chance, though, that you've already picked up some of the apps as they've almost all been out for some time. You'll find near-essential apps such as <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/scanner-pro-6-by-readdle/id333710667?mt=8">Scanner Pro 6</a> and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/pixelmator/id924695435?mt=8" target="_blank">Pixelmator </a>in the mix, as well as popular time-wasters like <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/goat-simulator/id868692227?mt=8" target="_blank">Goat Simulator</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-room-two/id667362389?mt=8" target="_blank">The Room Tw</a>o, and <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-amazing-spider-man-2/id779561331?mt=8" target="_blank">The Amazing Spider-Man 2</a>.</p><p>Many of these apps almost never go on sale, so if you've been holding off on picking them up in the hopes of a better opportunity, this is probably about as good as it's going to get. You can see the full selection by booting up the App Store on your iPhone, iPad, or snazzy new <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ipod_lineup_refresh_backtoschool_promo_playing_hooky_no_new_ipad_air">iPod touch</a>, and the sale should be the visible on the first banner you see.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>'Fallout Shelter' iOS Game Brings in $5.1 Million Within Two Weeks</h3><p>Speaking of amazing games and apps, how about that<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fallout-shelter/id991153141?mt=8" target="_blank"> Fallout Shelter</a>? Bethesda game studios only recently announced the mobile game alongside the upcoming Fallout 4 for consoles at E3 in June, but within its first two weeks of availability, it raked in a whopping $5.1 million according to research by SuperData (via <a href="http://www.vg247.com/2015/07/16/fallout-shelter-5-million-elder-scrolls-online-june/" target="_blank">VG24/7</a>). Even more impressive? It's only been available on iOS for all this time.</p><p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HY4jCjufLG8" width="620" height="349" frameborder="0"></iframe></p><p>So where's all that money coming from in a free-to-play game? Fallout Shelter, which puts you in control of your own vault in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse, allows players to buy "lunch boxes" that contain items like food, power, and new vault inhabitants with special skills. You can buy one for just $0.99, and if you feel like shelling out $20, you can buy as many as 40 (alongside two payment tiers in between). And that's it — that's all that available for purchase.</p><p>That's also all that Bethesda has needed to make a killing off the game, likely thanks to players who find its simple but addicting gameplay so fun that they don't mind throwing out some cash in support. It's yet another reminder of what developers can accomplish with the App Store while constrained to Apple's own ecosystem, and a reminder of why so many app developers choose to launch their products on Apple's App Store first.</p><p>An Android version is coming "later," but Bethesda seems content to ride its iOS success wave for now.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iphone_6s_plus_shell_stronger_99cent_ios_app_sale_fallout_shelter_success#commentsNewsAppsbendgateBethesdaDealsfallout sheltergamesiOS 8iPadiphoneleaksRumorsspeculationSat, 18 Jul 2015 00:09:40 +0000Leif Johnson21853 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: A9 Chips in Production; iPhone Scam; Employee Class-Action Suit Lives Againhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_a9_chips_production_iphone_scam_employee_classaction_suit_lives_again
<!--paging_filter--><p>The new iPhones are finally coming together — quite literally, in fact, as word dropped today that Samsung and TSMC are in the process of making the new A9 chips. Elsewhere, a scam is once again robbing hapless iOS users of their money, and the class-action lawsuit regarding employee bag checks at Apple retail stores has returned.</p><h3>A9 Chips in Production By Samsung, TSMC</h3><p>The new A9 chips for Apple's next generation devices are currently in production, according to a new report from <a href="http://www.digitimes.com/news/a20150716PD203.html?mod=2" target="_blank">DigiTimes</a>, and both Samsung and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. are said to be sharing the load after a long battle over who would win the contract from the Cupertino company. The decision to award the contract to both isn't too surprising, though, considering that Apple is said to have ordered a record-breaking<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_new_ios_9_beta_highlights_public_betas_coming_apple_orders_8590m_iphones" target="_blank"> 85-90 million</a> units of the iPhones set for launch later this year, and it's thus going to need all the chips it can get.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/a9.jpg" /></p><p><strong>Source: <a href="http://news.softpedia.com/news/First-iPhone-6S-Rumor-Confirmed-Samsung-to-Make-the-A9-Chips-471212.shtml" target="_blank">Softpedia</a></strong></p><p>In fact, the need must have been especially great for Apple to overlook the dicey relationship between the two companies. Back in February, TSMC filed a lawsuit against one of its own former employees for allegedly leaking research and development secrets to Samsung (via <a href="http://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/2015/02/tsmc-sues-former-employee-for-giving-samsung-trade-secrets.html" target="_blank">Patently Apple</a>), and even the CEO of Foxconn has expressed his misgivings about Apple's decision to use Samsung for part of the A9 orders (via<a href="http://www.gforgames.com/gadgets/foxconn-admits-lobbying-tsmc-apple-a9-47024/" target="_blank"> GforGames</a>).</p><p>The report also notes that Apple complicated the matter by tossing in last-minute changes to the mask patterns for the A9 chips, thus causing both manufacturers to make modifications before production could begin. Production is apparently on track now, however, and the switchout should have no impact on the anticipated September launch date for the so-called iPhone 6 and 6s Plus.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>iPhone Scam Strikes Again; Here's How to Avoid It</h3><p>A particularly nasty scam from last year affecting iOS users in both the U.S. and U.K. has resurfaced, and as before, it's out to get you to give the unscrupulous designers your money. It works by activating a popup that claims your iPhone has crashed on account of a third-party application, and sometimes it prevents additional activity in Safari in the process. The popup in turn gives you a toll-free number for a bogus support team that will supposedly fix the problem for you. Sure, they'll take anywhere from $19 to $80 in order to "repair it" if you call, but they'll do nothing aside from leaving your wallet a little lighter. Of course, you could probably figure out that something's not right based on the utterly appalling grammar and spelling on display.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/crash.jpg" width="620" height="796" /></p><p><strong>Above: The British version (via The Telegraph)</strong></p><p>If you happen to get affected, <em><a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/iphone/11743135/iphone-crash-report-how-to-block.html" target="_blank">The Telegraph</a></em> has a handy series of steps for getting rid of the problem. Simply put your phone on Airplane Mode, and then delete your Safari data by visiting the Settings app, scrolling down and selecting Safari, and then hitting "Clear History and Website Data." Deactivate Airplane Mode, and the problem should be a thing of the past once you open Safari again. The article&nbsp;also notes that you can avoid the issue entirely by Selecting "Block Pop-Ups" under Safari in Settings.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Class-Action Lawsuit Regarding Apple Bag Checks Returns</h3><p>Around 12,000 former and current Apple employees in California have gone forward with a class-action lawsuit against Apple regarding security bag checks, reports <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/16/us-apple-workers-lawsuit-idUSKCN0PQ1XO20150716">Reuters</a>, even though the case was <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_twofinger_touchpad_iphone_details_emerge_apple_employee_lawsuit">thrown out</a> last year following a similar ruling regarding Amazon employees. The employees involved in the suit claim that bag checks at Apple's retail stores forced them to stay around 10-15 minutes after their shifts had ended (with no compensation), and that they were "embarrassing and demeaning." As a result, the filers of the suit want what they claim are unpaid overtime wages and similar compensation.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/applechicago.jpg" width="620" height="444" /></p><p>Plaintiffs Amanda Friekin and Dean Pelle filed the suit, and they state that the bag checks were meant to discourage theft. Other employees had previously tried to contact Apple CEO Tim Cook about the matter directly in 2012 but to no real avail, and they filed the original suit in 2013. Now, however, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco is allowing the suit to go to trial.</p><p>Apple has usually argued that the case doesn't need class action status because the bag searches didn't happen at all locations, and that they were over so quickly that no compensation was necessary.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_a9_chips_production_iphone_scam_employee_classaction_suit_lives_again#commentsNewsA9class-action lawsuitFoxconniphoneLawsuitLegalSafariSamsungScamTSMCFri, 17 Jul 2015 00:24:33 +0000Leif Johnson21850 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: iPod Lineup Refresh; Back-to-School Promo Playing Hooky; No New iPad Airhttp://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ipod_lineup_refresh_backtoschool_promo_playing_hooky_no_new_ipad_air
<!--paging_filter--><p>Hey, there are updated iPods available from Apple! What is this, 2009? But while some old friends are making a comeback, others are strangely missing, such as Apple's annual back-to-school promotion and, according to an analyst, an&nbsp;upcoming refresh for the iPad Air.</p><h3>Apple Releases Updated iPod Line</h3><p>Apple this morning rolled out a refreshed lineup of iPods, thus confirming one of the more persistent <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_faster_lte_next_iphone_steve_jobs_biopic_trailer_new_ipod_colors" target="_blank">batch </a>of <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_new_ipod_lineup_may_appear_next_week_new_ios_9_keyboard_fixes_cap_issues" target="_blank">rumors </a>from the last couple of weeks. The Apple Online Store went down for a brief period earlier in the day, and when it came back up, shoppers were treated to <a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod/" target="_blank">new units</a> with new features and hardware as well as new color options.</p><p>Quite a few commentators had started to doubt that this day would ever come for the iPod touch, the iPod shuffle, and the iPod nano. Apple's portable music player line hasn't seen any updates since 2012, and it's nowhere near the generation-defining product line it was in the early 2000s.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ipod-family.jpg" /></p><p>Now, however, the<a href="http://www.apple.com/ipod-touch/" target="_blank"> iPod touch</a> has an 8-megapixel camera that puts it on par with the iPhone 6, in addition to Bluetooth 4.1 support and a 64-bit A8 processor. TechCrunch has already managed to perform a benchmark test on the device, and it found that the new iPod touch's processor runs at 1.10GHz per core, which is a bit slower than the 1.39GHz delivered by the iPhone 6. It's currently thought that the difference springs from an effort to give the new iPod touch a longer battery life.</p><p>Alas, that's the end of the big changes. The rest of the update consists of the introduction of a new gold color option for all iPod devices, as well as a (Product) RED color that will only be available in Apple retail stores. That brings the total colors available for the new devices to gold, red, silver, space gray, pink, and blue.</p><p>The new 16GB iPod touch costs $199, while its 32GB and 64GB siblings cost $249 and $299 respectively. If you really want some space, though, go for the 128GB unit at a fairly agreeable $399.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Apple's Back-to-School Promotions Missing in Action</h3><p>It's&nbsp;the middle of July; noticed&nbsp;anything missing? The folks over at <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2015/07/15/apple-annual-back-to-school-promo-missing/" target="_blank">MacRumors </a>have — specifically, Apple's beloved Back-to-School promotions that normally pop up around this time of year. For the last two years, the promotions have started on the second Tuesday of July, and in the years before that they started as early as May or June. But as for this year, at least so far? Nada.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/backtoschool.jpg" width="620" height="325" /></p><p><strong>Above: Last year's promotion</strong></p><p>The more optimistic explanation is that Apple is just pushing back the start date yet again. From a grim business point of view, that means that there are fewer days in which to take advantage of this deal, which may equate into a bit more profit on Apple's part. Even so, the more worrying news is that insider retail sources at Apple claim they haven't heard a pip from Cupertino, leading to speculation that Apple may have ditched the program entirely. That seems a little extreme considering Apple's long alliance with educational institutions, but it's not impossible.</p><p>But if Apple has, in fact, decided to ditch the program, that could signal the emergence of a very different Apple. Customers have long been used to Apple's back-to-school deals, and many of them hold off on buying new products until then as it's one of the few occasions when Apple offers any kind of deals at all. In the past, deals have consisted of everything from free iPods with the purchase of a Mac to $50 to $100 gift cards with a Mac purchase.</p><p>Seems like this would be a good opportunity to get those new iPods out into the hands of customers, right?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Rumor: Apple to Pass on iPad Air This Year to Make Way for iPad Pro</h3><p>A new, somewhat sketchy report from Taiwan's <em><a href="http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&amp;sl=&amp;tl=en&amp;u=http%3A%2F%2Fmoney.udn.com%2Fmoney%2Fstory%2F5612%2F1056476" target="_blank">Economic Daily News</a></em> clams that the long-rumored 12.9-inch iPad Pro will appear this fall alongside a new iPad mini. That much is more or less old news, at least based on previous rumors. But here's the catch — as a result, Apple might not reveal a new iPad Air at all this year.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/ipadair.jpg" width="620" height="398" /></p><p>According to Liaoxian Li, an investment analyst at Fubon Hardware, Apple isn't going to want to have anything detracting from the iPad Pro, and thus it's supposedly letting manufacturer Foxconn throw almost all its resources into making the device.</p><p>In addition, the report claims that this release of the iPad mini could be the last as Apple might want to focus on the two larger iPad units beginning in 2016. Take all this with a grain of salt, though, as the<em> Economic Daily News</em> has a shaky reputation as regards rumors at best, and Liaoxian Li is a virtual unknown in the arena.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_ipod_lineup_refresh_backtoschool_promo_playing_hooky_no_new_ipad_air#commentsNewsback to schoolbenchmarkeducational discountsGift CardsiOS 8iPadiPad Airipad proiPodWed, 15 Jul 2015 23:52:33 +0000Leif Johnson21844 at http://www.maclife.comApple Daily: Apple Close to Finalizing Streaming TV Deal; Chevron Testing Apple Pay at Pump http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_close_finalizing_streaming_tv_deal_chevron_testing_apple_pay_pump
<!--paging_filter--><p>Once again, the word on the street is that Apple is getting close to finalizing its streaming TV service, and now Apple's making the network do their own work in securing the necessary rights. In other news, Chevron is now allowing customers to pay for gas at the pump with Apple Pay at one location, and there's a chance we could see it throughout the rest of the country soon as well.</p><h3>Apple's Streaming TV Service Reportedly Close to Finalization</h3><p>After months of false starts, Apple's <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apples_online_tv_service_coming_nintendo_make_ios_games" target="_blank">long-rumored</a> streaming TV service might at last be on the way to becoming a reality, reports <em><a href="http://nypost.com/2015/07/13/apple-networks-progressing-in-talks-over-cable-killer-tv-app/" target="_blank">The New York Post</a></em>. The four big networks of ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox are reportedly almost on board, and only concerns about Apple's 30 percent cut of the subscription fee are said to stand in the way. In fact, talks are apparently so far along that the Cupertino company is reportedly already getting ready for a release sometime this fall.</p><p>At this point, it's reportedly almost a given that Disney and CBS will be a part of the service at launch, and Apple wants ESPN (largely owned by Disney) and Discovery to be a part of the launch package as well.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/apple-tv.jpg" width="620" height="426" /></p><p>Apple also wants live local TV to launch with the service, and <a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_iphone_5c_stops_shotgun_blast_os_x_and_ios_rumors_tv_service_delays" target="_blank">in the past </a>we've reported rumors claiming that this wish was mainly responsible for delaying the service's release, as the big networks often don't have the rights to the local content from affiliate network. Now, however, Apple appears to be taking a different tack — just let the big networks handle the details of securing the rights from their affiliated local broadcasters themselves.</p><p>Apple is, of course, one of the few companies with the clout to make such a request, but it appears to be paying off. According to sources with knowledge of the matter, the "networks are close to having the right to negotiate with Apple on behalf of their affiliates."</p><p>If all goes well, we should see the new streaming service sometime in the fall, along with new Apple TV hardware and an improved remote.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><h3>Chevron Starts Pilot Program to Let Customers Pay at Pump with Apple Pay</h3><p>Paying for food at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_pay_reached_1_all_digital_payment_dollars_november" target="_blank">Whole Foods</a> is one thing, but what if you could pay for your gas at the pump with Apple Pay? Apparenrly, you can already do so if you're lucky enough to live in the San Francisco Bay Area and happen to frequent the Chevron station at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/18060+San+Ramon+Valley+Blvd,+San+Ramon,+CA+94583/@37.758982,-121.967697,3a,75y,77.94h,77.55t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sK5d3BfwrpaOr-lll-_MnUA!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26output%3Dthumbnail%26thumb%3D2%26panoid%3DK5d3BfwrpaOr-lll-_MnUA%26w%3D374%26h%3D75%26yaw%3D66%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D120%26ll%3D37.758982,-121.967697!7i13312!8i6656!4m2!3m1!1s0x808ff29e52aa4ff3:0xf477aea90325b38!6m1!1e1" target="_blank">18060 San Ramon Valley Blvd</a> in San Ramon, according to Chevron's&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/Chevron/status/620591164920590337" target="_blank">Twitter account</a>, and soon you'll be able to use it at another location in Apple's hometown of <a href="https://twitter.com/Chevron/status/621041481781014528" target="_blank">Cupertino</a>&nbsp;as well.</p><p><img src="/files/u334114/2015/07/chevron.jpg" width="620" height="356" /></p><p><strong>Source: Google Maps</strong></p><p>Chevron had announced its attentions to allow customers to pay at the pump way back in December of last year, but only now has that plan been put into effect. And if all goes well in San Ramon and Cupertino, it's likely we'll soon get to use the service at other Chevron locations throughout the United States as well.</p><p>You can currently use Apple Pay inside at the registers at both Chevron and Texaco, but this marks the first time that companies have allowed customers to pay for their fuel at the pump itself.</p><p><em>Follow this article's writer,<a href="https://twitter.com/leifjohnson" target="_blank"> Leif Johnson</a>, on Twitter.</em></p>http://www.maclife.com/article/news/apple_daily_apple_close_finalizing_streaming_tv_deal_chevron_testing_apple_pay_pump#commentsNewsApple PayApple TVChevroniOS 8iPadiphonestreaming TVstreaming TV serviceWed, 15 Jul 2015 00:07:05 +0000Leif Johnson21841 at http://www.maclife.com